Rental car prices are so high in Hawaii ($722 per day), tourists are renting U-Haul trucks

[Demovictory9]

Rental car prices are so high in Hawaii, tourists are renting U-Haul trucks

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/25/us/hawaii-u-haul-tourist-rental-trnd/index.html

U-Haul trucks are unexpectedly getting a new look in Hawaii.

While the trucks are usually used for moving, tourists are now renting them because rental car prices have skyrocketed with the rebound of the tourism industry.

Covid-19 brought tourism to a halt, but with states now easing restrictions, the industry has come bouncing back with force.
The cheapest rental car in Maui in March ran for $722 a day, according to CNN affiliate KHNL-TV.


"This surge in demand is primarily for our smaller vehicles," said Kaleo Alau, U-Haul Company of Hawaii president, in an emailed statement to CNN. "We realize this demand is occurring when tourists are unable to secure a rental car, or they learn that our rental fleet options are more affordable."

Of course, this now also means a shortage of U-Haul trucks for people who actually need to move, Alau said.
"We are working everyday with our primary customer base — the islands' residential movers — to ensure we can still meet their transportation needs," Alau said.



https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/25/us/hawaii-u-haul-tourist-rental-trnd/index.html

[genxlib]

1. This is why I think

It will be at least 2022 before I get a decent vacation. There is just way too much pent up demand and I hate traveling with crowds. Especially to visit nature. I am guessing that the National Parks are going to be overrun with people this summer.

[csziggy]

15. For nature vacations, maybe hire a local guide who can drive you?

For my trip to the UK I looked at maybe hooking up with a birding pal. BirdingPal.org connects birders with local people interested in birds in locations all over the world. Since my husband and my schedule was not rigid, I ended not doing it, but kept the site as a possibility for future trips. http://www.birdingpal.org/

A local Pal does not get paid, but should he/she offer to take someone out birding, using their own vehicle, it would be expected you pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club.
http://www.birdingpal.org/disclaimer.htm

That might be a good way to have a good trip in nature without joining the crowds - if you are into bird watching.

[Blues Heron]

2. what happened to all the rental cars - did they crush them?

didn't they think the tourists would return? Someone check the honolulu public pier area for hundreds of sunken cars!

[Luciferous]

4. I think a lot of places sold them. If I had to spend that much on a rental car I would

find a new place to vacation... not that I plan on going on vacation any time soon!

[Maxheader]

3. Heck!

I'd rather drive 🚗 a pickup anyway! ....

[SKKY]

5. Does Hawaii not have Uber and/or Lyft?

[apnu]

6. Those rates are also sky high

Everybody who suffered the lockdown is gouging hard to make up for losses. I'm not going to take a vacation out of the Continental United States until prices come down to reasonable rates. What vacation I do take this year will involve travel in my own car, but even then a short distance given gas prices being high right now as well.

[Tigerfan73]

7. Rental cars

Rental car companies sold their fleet to recoup money from going bankrupt. Now all of the auto makers are having trouble getting the chips for the computers. That means that fleet can’t be replaced easily. Rental cars are going to be a problem for vacationers for a while and not just in Hawaii, Vegas is the same way. I just got back and it cost me 1k for a sedan. That was only for 3 days. Luckily my company was paying for it.

[Demovictory9]

12. wow... $1k for three days

[flying_wahini]

8. I use TURO to rent cars in most major cities. You rent private person's car and skip the agency.

It’s an app. You can use your own insurance if you have full coverage.
Rent anything from brand new luxury cars or eggbeaters. Not all cities.
You can also have them pick you up or just pick it up in a parking lot at the airport.
I have used it in Denver, Austin, Las Vegas and California. Saved me TONS of money.

[kcr]

11. Is there no end to the share economy?

Soon we'll be renting out a seat at our dining room tables, to disrupt the restaurant economy. Too bad the name Sur La Table has already been spoken for. Or has that already been done? If you haven't rented out every square inch of your space and every spare second of your time in your life, you just aren't hustling enough. Rent out your couch....

No, I'm not paying to rent some stranger's car. Gross. There are limits.

ETA sorry I didn't meant for this to seem so personally directed at you. I just hadn't heard of this before.

[Demovictory9]

13. " Soon we'll be renting out a seat at our dining room tables"

there are already folks who cook at home and sell the meals to others. informally, no restaurant license. happens in high density places like New York.

[DFW]

9. Just out of curiosity, I went to the Avis website

For a full size car (Toyota Camry), it quoted $2500 including all taxes (which were steep, something like $490) for a two week rental in May, or less than $200 a day. I still find this steep, but it's a far cry from $722.

[Celerity]

14. Was that for Maui?

The cheapest rental car in Maui in March ran for $722 a day, according to CNN affiliate KHNL-TV.

Also, look for rentals now, not May.

[DFW]

17. Good grief, no.

I have been to O'ahu, Mau'i, Kaua'i and the Big island, and the last one I'd want to return to would be Mau'i. Our favorites are the Big Island and Kaua'i, and O'ahu for visiting friends who live there and changing planes. And since May is 4 days away, I gave a little time to pack bags and make the flight. Maybe there's some reason for comparing prices for an hour from now as opposed to a week from now, but even if there is, I'm not in that much of a rush.

[Celerity]

19. I wager they checked all the islands and quoted the most expensive for shock value

I have never been to Hawaiʻi. I prefer the Aegean and other Greek (so much closer for me) isles like Santorini, Antiparos, Hydra, Folegandros. Mykonos, etc etc, and then, farther out on the globe, the Seychelles (love Praslin and especially La Digue).

[DFW]

20. That could well be.

It doesn't seem anywhere near typical, even for now.

The Greek Isles are closer for us, too, but we just don't seem to come up with the time to explore them. Quite agreed on the Seychelles, though we have only been to Mahé and Praslin. La Digue has always been on the to do list, but again, finding the time was always a factor.

[Hekate]

16. A bit of research will take you a long way.My husband found a small local outfit that rents to local

...people, generally folks travelling to O’ahu from the outer islands — at least when we were there. Nice people. Gently used cars that don't scream: I’m a tourist! Pop my trunk!

Just checked google & it looks like Lucky Owl is still in business & I bet they aren’t charging an arm and a leg.

[DFW]

18. Kama'aina usually take care of each other

When my daughter decided to stay on there for an additional year of school, she got her driver's license there and had her very first (and very used) car to get from Waimea/Waikoloa down to the house where her roomie's patrents lived in South Kona for the weekends. Her Hawai'i driver's license qualified her for Kama'aina discounts everywhere. At times, they were pretty substantial.

She hadn't yet completely lost the last vestiges of her German accent, but you really had to listen to detect it. On O'ahu, some of the locals noticed she "wasn't from around there," and she said she was from the Big Island, and they accepted that (Haole? Not me!).

[zeusdogmom]

10. My car rental fee for a 4 day trip for a family wedding is way more than my airfare

A vehicle is a necessity when I reach my destination and my heart needs to be at three wedding, so therefore I pay the car rental